TOKYO — Lilly King of the United States will take center stage at the Tokyo Aquatics Center on Tuesday morning.
King, 24, who is from Indiana, is brash and outspoken — and dominant in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. Undefeated at the distance since December 2015 and the current world-record holder, King is the heavy favorite to defend her gold medal from Rio de Janeiro. She would be the first two-time Olympic champion in the event.
The final of the women’s 100-meter backstroke figures to be a scorcher. In three successive heats of opening-round qualifying on Sunday, the Olympic record fell thanks to the handiwork of Kylie Masse of Canada, Regan Smith of the U.